Wire-stay-making machine.



110.721,568. PATENTEDIEE Q4,- 1903.`

J. KEELEII, A; W. V. AAP. A. EEID. WIRE STAY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1901. No MODEL. a EHEEfEsfEHEE'I'l 1.

KIWA.. A d x. A. KEN: N

` PATBNTBD PEB. 24.1903.

'f No. 721,568. IJ. KELLBY, s; W.\V. a. P. A. REID.

.WIRE STAY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIONFILED NOV. 21, 1901.

N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET A2.

'/ZI///rewes: y A I MWA/MA No. 721,568. v PAIENTD FEB. 24, 1903.

l J. KELLEY, & W. V.& P.A. REID. y

WIRE STAY MAKING MACHINE.'

APPLICATION FILED NOTK/21, 1901.

No Monm.. s SHEETS-SHEET a'.

I' tl/64222251 PATENTBD FEB. 24, 1903. J. KELLEY, & W. V. & P. A.REID.

WIRE STAY MAKING-MACHINE.

' 'APPLIQATIONIILED NOV. 21, 1901.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

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' No. 721,568. f PATENTBD 11313.24, 190s.

J. KBLLEY, @L W.' V. @z P. A. REID.

WIRE STAY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. Z1, 1901. l 5

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N o. 721,568.. Y `PATFNTED PEB. 24, 1903.

J. KELLBY, a. W. v. a. P. A. REID.

WIRE STAY MAKING MACHINE.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED PEB. 24, 1903.

I. KBLLEY, & W. V.. & P. A. REID. WIRE STAY MAKING MACHINE. l

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 21, 1901.

y No MODEL. s SHEETS-SHEET 7.

No. 721,568. u .y PATENTED FEB. 24, 1903. J. KELLEY, & W. V. 6v P. A.REID.

WIRE STAY MAKING MACHINE..

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1901.

' a SHEETS-SHEET s.

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NITED STATES 'PATENT EEICE.

JAMES KELLEY, WALTER V.

REID, AND PE'ITIS A. REID, OF RICHMOND,

INDIANA; sAID JAMES KELILEY AND WALTER v. VREID AssIGNoRs To PETTIS A.REID;

wm'E-sTAYV-'MAKIN'G MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent N0. 721,568, dated February24, 1903.

Application filed November 2l. 1901. Serial No. 83.171. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that we, J AMES KELLEY, WAL- TER V. REID, and PETTIs A. REID,citizens et the United States, residing at Richmond, in

5 the county of Wayne and State of Indiana,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stay-MakingMachines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the into vention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. Y

This invention relates to machines for making wire stays or cross-wiresdesigned for at- I 5 tachment to a series of strand-wires in themanufacture of wirefencing or fabrics.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly-efficientmachine for rapidly producing uniform stays consisting of wires zohaving at intervals therein bent portions or loops adapted to be coiledor Wrapped about the strand wires for attaching the stays thereto. A

In carrying our invention into effect thel Wires which are to be formedinto stays being first cut into proper lengths may be successivelydelivered lengthwise upon a series of loop-pressing clamps or jawsarranged to separate and close consecutively or, prefergo ably, to movealternately rst in groups or divisions in opposite directions from an`intermediate point orl an intermediate xed member of the series andthen in'opposite pairs consecutively back toward each other or againstsaid iixed member.V Each Wire is. preferably gripped or otherwisesecured.

against adjacent clamps or opposite. pairs of adjacent clamps insuccession as said clamps consecutively standseparated, and the'inter-4o mediate portions thereof, which span the spaces between said adjacentclam ps, are successively bent or folded in between the latter as theouter separated clamps move consecutively inward .against the others,thus producing the loops, on completion of which operation the loops maybereleased simultaneouslyfrom between all ofthe 4closed clamps and thenished stay withdrawn or ejected from the machine. 'lhe several clampsand bottom elevations of'said clamps.

cooperating mechanism being thus arranged 5o to operate in succession,all heavy jarring, as well as undue vstrain of the parts, isconsequently avoided.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described withreference to the accompanying drawings, which forma part of thisspeciiication, and then pointed out in the claims following thisdescription.

In said drawings, in which corresponding vparts inthe several views aredesignated by 6o similar letters of reference, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is aplan view of a Wire-stay-making machine embodying my invention,intermediate portions .near each end thereof being broken away to reducethe width and the parts being represented in the relative positionsassumed immediately after outward movement of the movable loop-pressingclamps or immediately after delivery of a Wire and before operation toform the same into a stay. Eig. 7o 2, Sheet 2, is a similar `plan View,partly in section and with various operative parts removed for thepurpose of illustrating more clearly the construction and arrangement ofthe clamps and their operating cams. or de- 75,V

vices. Fig.- 3, Sheet 3, is an end view of the ma- Y chine. Fig. 4.,Sheetlet, is asimilar view looking toward the opposite end to that shownin the preceding figure. Fig. 5, Sheet 5, represents a verticalcross-section taken on the line VV 8o of Fig. l looking in the directionof the arrrow. Fig. 6, same sheet, is a fragmentary detail viewfinvertical cross-section, illustrating the operation of bending a portionof a wire in betweenadjacent clamps as thelatter close together. Fig. 7,Sheet, represents an enlarged vertical cross-section taken on thelineVII VII of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8,Sheet 7, represents a longitudinal vertical cross-section 9o taken online VIII VIII of Fig.' 1. Fig. 9, Sheet 8, is a detail view, in sideelevation, of one of the clamps. Figs. 10,11, and 12, same sheet,represent, respectively, top,'rear, and

. Fie- 13, 9s same sheet, is a detail view of a number of clamps of theseries, illustrating the operation of forming successively loops in awire.

Figs. 14 to 19, inclusive, same sheet, are detail views, in sideelevation, of the several members of a group of wipers orwire-gripper-operating devices, the group shown being that. at theright-hand side of the machine herein illustrated. Figs. 20 to 25,inclusive, are plan views of said wipers, and Figs. 26 to 31, inclusive,bottom views thereof. Figs. 32 and 33, Sheet 3, are detail views, inplan and end elevation, respectively, of a butter or device for pushingthe wire endwise into proper position upon the clamps, together withmeans for actuating said butter. Figs. 34 and 35, Sheet 4, are detailviews, in side elevation and plan, respectively, of a cam or device foroperating one of the end clamps of the series. Figs. 36, 37, and 3S,Sheet 5, are detail views, in side elevation, front elevation, and plan,respectively, of one of the clamp-operating cams. Figs. 3f) and 40, samesheet, are detail views, in side elevation and plan, respectively, ofone of the needle-actuating carn-wheels. Fig. 41, same sheet, is adetail view of one of the guides for directing the Wires as they aredelivered into proper position upon the clamps. Figs. 42 and 43, Sheet'7, are front and plan elevations, respectively, of one of the finishedstays produced by the machine herein illustrated; and Fig. 44 representsan enlarged end elevation of said stay.

Referring to the drawings by specific letters of reference, A designatesthe several members of a suitable supporting-frame for the machine.

The letter B denotes a power-shaft to which power from thc engine ormotor may be applied at a friction-pulley b, and C denotes an idle shaftdriven by the power-shaft through the medium of friction gears or drum band c and driving in turn, through the medium of suitable gearing, threeuniformly-rotating shafts D, E, and F, the said idle shaft being hereinrepresented provided with a pinion c, in gear with a spur-wheel cl onthe shaft D, which spur meshes with an equal spur e on the shaft E andis also in gear, through the medium of an interposed idle wheel G, withan equal spurf on the shaft F, the arrangement thus being such that theshaft E, which is preferably disposed above the shaft D, rotates in anopposite direction to the latter, while the shaft F, preferably disposedin ad* Vance of the others, rotates in the same direction with saidshaft D, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, though it will beunderstood that the arrangement may be varied in machines of modifiedconstruction, if desired.

The friction-gear ZJ' is preferably adapted to be moved into or out ofdriving contact with the friction-gear c for the purpose of instantlyapplying or shutting off the power at will, that end of the shaft B towhich the fricF tion-gear is secured being mounted in a movable journal02, herein represented connected to a lever D3 under control of theoperator by a handle b4, which is self-locking in position to apply thepower, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 3 and 4, inthe former of which figures the friction-gear b is shown out of contactwith the drum c', while in the latter it is represented thrown intodriving engagement therewith. While the interposed idle shaft C ispreferably employed for the purposes of taking initial strain from thepoWershaft and properly reducing the speed, it will be understood,nevertheless,that the power may in some instances be applied directly tothe main shaft D.

Before proceeding further it may be stated that in the machine hereinillustrated the wires in being formed into stays are worked from theircenters toward their opposite ends simultaneously, and the loop-formingmechanism and the actuating devices therefor are accordingly representedsymmetrically arranged in two oppositely-operating groups or divisions,in which the corresponding parts or members are of similar thoughreverse construction. The machines may, however, be differentlyconstructed and designed to work the wires from end to end or from endsto center or otherwise, and it will be understood, therefore, that theinvention is by no means limited to the construction and arrangementillustrated.

Longitudinally disposed between the shaft Fand shafts Dand E isaseriesof loop-pressing clamps, the corresponding members of which at oppositesides of the machine or of each division, as above noted, are forconvenience of reference designated, respectively, by the letters H, H',H2, H3, H, and H5. The said clamps may be slidably supported on a squareor polygonal slide orguide-beam I, eX- tending through similarly-shapedopenings in the clamps and secured in suitable blocks or supports 'i atthe ends and middle of the machine, the innermost clam ps I-I of theseries being preferably secured in fixed position, as by uniting them atopposite sides of the middle block t', while the remaining ones at eachside thereof are left movable on the slide I. Immediately preceding eachstaymaking operation, all the clamps being closed together, the saidmovable ones are shoved or moved simultaneously in opposite groupsoutwardly or toward opposite ends of the Inachine, thus separating theinnermost movable clamps H a suitable distance from `the fixed clamps,as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The wire to be formed into a stay is thenpreferably gripped or otherwisev secured firmly against the fixed clampsand adjacent but separated ones H', which latterare thereupon returnedor shoved inwardly toward the former,while simultaneously with suchmovement the portions of wire extending across the intervening spacesare bent or folded in between said clamps, thus producing loops whichare pressed into proper form by the clamps the outer members closeagainst the inner ones. The Wire is then rigidly secured against thenext and now-separated IOO fore, and so on to the ends of the series,the

clamps of each group consecutively separating from their adjacent outerones and returning to the adjacent inner ones, while the yportions ofwire extending across the consecutively created spaces are successivelybent or folded into loops between the clamps as they close one againstanother. When the last or outermost clamps of the series finally closeagainst thepreceding members, the loops are released from between theclosed clamps and the linished stay withdrawn or ejected from themachine.

It will be observed that the adjacent fixed clamps H constitute, in eecasingle wide clamp, which determines the distance between l[he twoinnermost loops of the stay to be produced, thepresent machine beingdesigned for making double stays or cross-Wires, as shown in Figs. 42and 43,which may be severed afterward into shorter stays of equal lengthand like formation, wherefore it is desirable that the innermostadjacent loops of said double stays be formed at greater intervals thanthe other loops for the purpose of leaving sufficient lengths ofstraight wire at the ends of the severed stays. machine a narrow fixedclamp, corresponding in width to the remaining members of the series,would preferably be employed. It will also be observed that in thepresent machine the clamps of each group are formed successively wider,which is for the purpose of producing stays having their loops disposedat successively-wider intervals, the same being thus adapted forattachment to a series of strand-wires arranged atsuccessively-increasing gages. In a single machine the clamps wouldpreferably be formed successively wider from end to end of the series,though it will be understood that the arrangement may be variedaccording to the character of the stays to be produced.

A shaft J, longitudinally disposed in advance of the clam ps, supports aseries of movable needles or wire-bending devices, corresponding innumber-and arrangement to the spaces between the clamps andcorrespondingly designated at opposite sides of the machine by thereference-letters K' K2K3v K4 K5, dac., respectively. The needles ofeach group are adapted to engage in succession the portions of wirewhich span the consecutivelycreated spaces between the clamps of thecorresponding group and each needle operating in connection with andmoving longitudinally between a pair of adjacent clamps to bend or foldthe wire between said clamps as theyconsecutively close one against theother, all as hereinafter explained. The clamps, one of which is shownin detail in Figs. 9 to l2, inclusive, may consist oi' suitable blocksor heads having square or polygonal open- In asingleingsh therethrough,which slidably embrace the slide vor guide-beam I. The said clamps arepreferably provided at their upper surfaces with upstanding abutments orprojections h',against which abutments of one clamp after another ofeach group of clamps the wire being formed into a stay is in turn forcedand secured as the clamps of said group consecutively separate and closetogether. At the outer sides of said abutments of each clamp a pair ofgrippers or wire-grabbing devices L may be pivoted, the adjacent ones ofwhich grippers of each adjacent pair of clamps while the latter standseparated are caused to grip the wire as soon as itis forced against theadjacent abutments of said separated clamps and to firmly hold the samedown upon thel clamps as the outer one thereof closes 'against theother, the grippers of the several clamps continuing their hold upon thewire until the outermost loops of the stay are produced, and thereuponreleasing the wire simultaneously, all by means hereinafter eX- plained.The said abutments h of the clamps are preferably formed withcorrespondinglyoblique faces throughout the entire series, as

shown in Figs. l and 2, so that each wire as it is successively pushedand secured against adjacent abutments of the consecutively-separatedclamps of each group is successively deflected across the consecutivelycreated spaces and of course oppositely deected across the clamps,whereby the portions of the wire which extend across said spaces arefolded and pressed into loops having both IOO members of each lying inthe same transverse plane to the body of the stay, while theintermediate straight portions of the wire are left diverging from andto corresponding members of adjacent loops, thus producing stays of thecharacter represented in Figs. 8 and 9, which are adapted to be placedagainst a series of strand-wires in the subsequent manufacture of thefabrichwith the two members of each loopcontacting with one of saidstrand-wires, whereby said stays may be attached to the latter withoutfirst bending the loops to one side or theother or turning the stay as awhole before the twisting operation.

IIO

It will be understood, however, that the said face portions or hingedface-plates, as hwhich p movable face-plates of the entire series areadapted when all the clamps are brought together to turn into or. recedewithin suitable cu t-away portions or recesses in the same sides of theclamps for the purpose of releasing the loops to permit the finishedstay to be withdrawn, the said hinged face plates being preferablyspring-pressed against suitable devices, such as the particylindricalportions of mutilated spindles h4, journaled in the clamps beside theplates and normally maintained in position to hold them outward, butadapted to be turned to permit them to recede within said recesses,which spindles in the present 'construct-ion are provided at their lowerprotruding ends with short levers or toes h5, which arenormallyspring-maintained against suitable pins or stops, as 7L, but areadapted to be simultaneously engaged and moved by suitable devices toturn the spindles and permit the plates 713 to recede and release theloops. The clamps may be further provided with rearward cam projections717, extending, preferably, toward the axis of the shaft D and formed,preferably, with opposite bearing-surfaces, which are initiallyinclined, as at hs, and terminally vertical, as at 71,9, Figs. 9, ll,and l2, said cam projections being designed for engagement by theclamp-operating cams or devices now to be described. The movable clampsof each group are engaged by their operating-cams only at the outersides of their cam projections, except the innermost one, H', which isalso rst engaged at the inner or opposite side of its said projection toshove the group outward; but the several clamps are neverthelesssimilarly constructed, both for convenience of manufacture and to renderthem adaptable for use at any positions in the series. The movableclamps of each group may be operated by a series of cams M M' M2 Ms M4M5, die., spirally arranged on the shaft D and adapted to engage saidclamps in consecutive order, at each revolution of the shaft theinnermost cam M first engaging and moving the innermost movable clamp Haway from the fixed clamp or clamps H, thereby shoving the whole groupoutward,and the remaining cams then engaging and returning the clamps insuccession, shoving them inwardly one after another, in the mannerbefore explained. Outward movement of both groups of clamps under actionof the cams M may be properly limited by suitable stops or abutments,herein shown as bars i', secured upon the slide I between the outermostclamps of the series and the blocks i at the ends of the machine. Forproper engagement with the rearward cam projections 7iT of the movableclamps the cams, one of which is shown in detail in Figs. 36 to 38,inclusive, may be formed with their cam-surfaces substantiallyperpendicular to the shaft D and initially inclined, as at m, butterminally vertical, as at m, for wiping contact, respectively, with theinclined surfaces hs and terminal vertical surfaces 7L9 of said camprojections. The cams of each group are substantially identical, exceptthe first one, M, which is constructed with its cam-surfaces oppositelydisposed to or confronting the cam-surfaces of the others, beingdesigned to shove the clamps in an opposite direction to the others, asabove noted. In operation the clamps of each group being all closedtogether, the cam M first shoves the group outward by wiping'engagementof its oblique surface m against the inclined surface 72,8 lat one sideof the cam projection of the first clamp H and holds the group aninstant in their extreme outward position by sliding contact of itsterminal surface m' against the terminal vertical surface 72,9 of saidcam projection. As soon as said cam passes from said clamp the next camM is brought into engagement therewith, shoving the same immediatelyback or inwardly against the fixed clamp by contact of its obliquesurface m against the inclined surface 71,8 at the opposite side of saidcam projection, holding said movable clamp firmly against the fixedclamp by contact of its terminal surface fm against the terminalvertical surface 7i of said projection, while the next cam M2 engagesand shoves the succeeding clamp H2 in the same manner inwardly againstthe clamp H', which clamp I-I2 is similarly held against the precedingclamp H', while the next cam M3 engages and shoves inwardly thesucceeding clamp H3, and so on to the end of the group. The last oroutermost cam M5 of each group, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 34.-, and 35, ispreferably provided with a wing m2 or extension of its terminal surface,which after said cam has shoved the outermost clamp inwardly bearsagainst the outer vertical surface 7L of the cam projection of saidclamp, and thereby holds the group in their inward position pendingrelease of the loops and Withdrawal of the stay, said extension leavingsaid outermost clamp just before the first cam M comes again intoengagement with the first movable clamp to move the group outward. Itwill be understood, of course, that the cams may in some'instances bedifferently constructed or the clamps operated by other suitable means.

The grippers L, which are caused to grip the wire successively in pairsat adjacent sides of the clamps as the latter consecutively stand apart,are preferably provided with rearwardly-bent projections or fingers Z,which may rest normally upon a longitudinal support, as thestay-ejector-operatin g rock-shaft Y, hereinafter referred to, but areadapted to be raised to force the grippers down upon the wire in anobvious manner. The grippers of the clamps of each group may be operatedby a series of wipers on the shaft E, (designated, respectively, by theletters N' N2 NBN4 N5, &c.,) the same being arranged to engage and liftin succession the fingers of the successive pairs of grippers at theproper periods, each wiper maintaining the particular pair ofgripper-fingers engaged thereby raised, while the outer clamp of theparticular separated couple closes against the inner one as well, asuntil the outermost clamp or clamps of the series are IOO IIO

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moved inwardly, whereupon all the wipers pass at substantially the sameinstant from under and drop` the fingers of all the grippers to causethe latter simultaneously to release the wire. The wipers of each group,as shown more clearly in Fig. 1 and detail Figs. 1l to 31, inclusive,may consist of successively shorter mutilated rollers or segments ofcylinders arranged with their foremost or initially-acting edges nsuccessively one behind another for proper consecutive engagement withthe successive pairs of gripper-fingers, but with their terminal edgesin substantial alinement for the purpose of dropping all the fingerstogether. It is obvious that as the outer clamp of eachmomentarily-separated couple closes or moves inwardly toward the otherclamp the gripper of the former is of course carried therewith towardthe gripper of the latter, wherefore in thepresent machine the wipersare cut'away at their outer sides in conformity with such inwardmovement of the outer gripper-fingers from points sufficiently removedfrom their initial surfaces,which engage said gripper-lingers whenfarthest apart, so that the wipers may be arranged sufficiently closetogether, with their wider initial portions overlapping. In operation,it being remembered that the shaft E rotates uniformly with the shaft D,the innermost wiper N of each group or series engages and lifts thefingers of the rst pair of grippers, or those atadjacent sides of theclamps H and H, while the group of movable clamps is held outwardythnscausing said grippers to grip the wire previously pushed under them bymeans hereinafter explained and hold the same rmly upon the saidseparated clamps at their adjacent sides. When the clamp H closesagainst the clamp H, pressing the first loop bent in between them fromthe wire, the next wiper N2 engages and lifts the second pair ofgripper-fingers, or those of the grippers at adjacent sides ofthenow-separated clamps H and H2, and when the clamp H2 closes against theclamp H' the succeeding wiper N3 engages and lifts the third pair ofgripper-fingers, or those of the grippers at adjacent sides/of thenow-separated clamps H2 and H3, and so on tothe end ofeach group. Whenthe outermost clamps H5 of the series inally close against the precedingmembers, all the wipers having maintained the gripperfingers elevatedpass at substantially the same instant from under saidr fingers, andthus cause all the grippers simultaneously to release the wire.

The needles K K2, dac., Figs. l, 5, 6,-and 7, may be adjustably securedto levers or rocker-arms j, slidably mounted on theshaft J, andconsists, preferably, of thin bars of steelorother suitable materialhaving notches i; at their. lower extremities and outstanding ondepending toes or projections lo below said notches. The needles of eachgroup are adapted to act successively upon the wire, each needleoperating in connection with an adjacent pair of clamps, being loweredby the rocker-army' the instant the inner clamp of the particular coupleseparates from the other, and pushing by means of its toe la the wireback under the grippers and firmly ad- -gins to closeor move toward theother, during which inward movement the needle, still travelinglongitudinally between the clamps,

is farther depressed to bend or fold the portion of wire spanning theintervening space down or in between said clamps, being suddenl yelevated to escape the latter just before closing and immediatelyreturned to its normal position. Other means may of course be employedto force the wire back against the abutments h' and the needles arrangedto engage thewire by their notches directly vat points midway theseparated clamps.

Though the present construction is preferred because the toes orprojections 7c serve not only to push back the wire, but also toinsure..

proper engagement by the notches, and, further, because the needles,being gradually moved longitudinally, are already in movement when theouter clamps begin to close` toward the inner ones, thus insuringperfect .A

action. The needles may be properly adjusted on the rocker-arms, and itwill be observed that the notches thereof move in the arcs of equalcircles, thus bending the several loops of the stay in exact alinement.The needles of each group may be operated by a series of cams orcam-wheels O O2 O3 O4 O5, dto., secured lo and spirally arranged aboutthe shaft F, so as to actuate said needles consecutively, the needlesupporting rocker-arms or levers j being provided with rearward toes orlugs j', which are heldin contact with the peripheries of saidcam-wheels by stout retractile springs j2, interposed between saidlrocker-arms and a longitudinal rod or support js at the front ofthemachine, or by other suitable means. The said cam-wheels, one ofl whichis shown in detail in Figs. 39 and 40', may consist of circular diskshaving rim projections lor tlanges'o at their outer sides or edges,against which the toes jf ofthe rocker-arms are slidably maintained bythe' retractile springs g2, the latter being preferably obliquelydisposed, as shown in Fig. 1, and provided also with peripheralprojections or wipers 0', which engage and lift said toes to depress theneedles, the flanges 0 being suitably inclined or cam-faced at the saidprojections, as at o2, for thev purpose of moving the needles inwardlysimultaneously as they are depressed. The projections o terminateabruptly, whereby at the proper moments the toes are instantly' droppedand the needles instantly elevated to escape the closing clamps,

fsaid toes being also drawn outward against lIO the straight or Verticalportions of the fianges o to move the needles to their propel' outwardpositions. lf desired, the cam-wheels may be further provided at theirinner sides or edges with suitable peripheral cam projections, as o3,which serve positively to force the toes j' against the flanges 0immediately prior to depression of the needles, and in some instancessaid projections may be entirely depended upon for such purpose andcontinued, if desired, as peripheral Iianges around the cam-wheels toguide the toes, the springs ji being employed only for elevating theneedles, though preferably the toes are constantly and firmly retainedagainst the liauges by the springs, as in the machine illustrated. Inoperation, itbeing remembered that the shaft F rotates uniformly withthe shafts D and E, as soon as the movable clamps are shoved in union totheir extreme outward positions the first cam-wheel O' of each groupbegins to depress the first needle K', the depending toe t' of whichpushes the wire back against the abutments 7L' at adjacent sides of theseparated clamps H and H', whereupon the adjacent grippers of saidclamps grip the wire under action of the first wiper N', and the outerclamp H' is then shoved by the cam M' inwardly toward the clamp H, whilethe needle having brought its notch 7c into engagement with the wiremidway the separated clamps is further depressed byits cam-wheel andcaused to bend or form a loop, being instantly elevated as theprojection 0' of its cam-Wheel passes from the toe of itssupporting-lever to escape the clamp the moment before the outer one isforced against the other. As soon as the clamp H' separates from theclamp H2 the second cam-wheel O2 begins to depress and shove inwardlythe second needle N2, which operates under action of said cam- Wheel inthe same manner as the preceding needle, and so on with each succeedingclamp and needle to the end of the series.

The wires 2 to be formed into stays may be cut into proper lengths andpresented from between inclined guide-bars P and P to an intermittentfeed device, which is arranged above the clamps and adapted to deliver awire thereupon at the proper period prior to each stay-making operation.In the present machine the feed device consists of a shaft Q, journaledin suitable standards at the ends of the machine, as well as in thelower eX- tremities of the lower guide-bars P', and having securedthereon adjacent said lower guide bars disks or collars q, which arecorrespondingly provided with equidistant notches q', and are partiallyembraced by the curved lower extremities of the Lipper guidebars P', asshown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 7. At each intermittent or partialrotation of the shaft Q one of the notches q' of each disk is brought toregister with the spaces between the guide-bars and receive awiretherefrom, while' at the same time a wire previously received by othernotches having been carried around and past the lower curved extremitiesof the upper bars is dropped from said notches upon the clamps, saidwire being directed to fall in proper position upon the latter directlyin front of the grippers L by suitable guides g2, which may consist ofwires depending from the ends of the shaft Q and a forward rock-shaft R,hereinafter referred to. As a means for intermittently rotating theshaft Q the same may be provided at one end with a ratchet-wheel qs,Fig. i, rigidly secured thereon and having its teeth, which correspondin number to the circumferential notches in the disks q, successivelyengaged by a pawl or dog qt, whichin the present machine iseccentrically pivo'ted to one end of the shaft E, being supported inproper position bya suitable pin or projection q, outstanding from oneof the feed-shaft-supporting standards and being maintained in properengagement against the ratchet by a retractile spring q. At eachrotation of the shaft E the pawl is thus moved to snap under and engagea tooth of the ratchet and oppositely moved to partially rotate the feeddevice, the arrangement preferably being such that a wire is droppedfrom said feed device upon the clamps immediately after ejection of eachfinished stay.

The rock-shaft R above mentioned is provided with a number of dependingpins or rods fr, which are normally held by said rockshaft firmlyagainst the front faces of certain of the clamps, thus obviating allliability of falling of the wire therefrom, it being obvious that thewire is continually shortened, as the loops are successively producedtherein, and that its ends are accordingly drawn inwardly from theguides q2. Immediately after each staymaking operation the rock shaft isturned to move the pins i away from the clamps to permit the finishedstay to drop therefrom and immediately oppositely turned, preferably byspring force, as hereinafter explained, lo snap said pins back againstthe clamps to retain the succeeding blank wire upon them.

Mounted on the machine at one end of the series of clamps is a fixedupright plate or abutment S, and at the opposite end of said series ofclamps there is a movable plate or butter T, which latter is hereinrepresented, Figs. l, 4, 32, and 33, opstanding from a horizontal plateor base portion t, slidably secured to arod t', projecting from asuitable support at the end of the machine, The butter is impelled by aretractile spring t2 or other suitable means toward the oppositeabutment S, but as each wire is dropped from the feed device is drawnoutwardly against force of its spring and then released, thus snappingback and pushing the wire endwise against said abutment, whereby eachwire is supported upon the clamps in the same position lengthwise andthe loops of the several stays formed therein at corresponding points.As means for actuating the butter the latter is herein IOC IIO

IZO

represented connected by a cord t3 to a crank device t, pivoted in asuitable standard at the end of the machine and-having a toe or bentportion t5, held by force of the butter-spring in contact with a cam orwiper U on the shaft E, which wiper lifts said toe to retract the butterbefore delivery of each wire and drops instantly the sameto release thebutter as the wire falls from the feed device upon the clamps. Each wirebeing thus delivered in proper position upon .the clamps and the op'-posite movable groups ythereof standing in their extreme outwardpositions the movable clamps of each group simultaneously areconsecutively'moved inwardly, the needles and grippers cooperatingtherewit hin the manner already fully explained to produce the loops. Oncompletion of the loop-forming operation it is necessary to release theloops from the closed clamps, which is accomplished, as be-I foreexplained, by turningl the'spindles h4 of all the clamps simultaneouslyto permit the` hinged face-plates h3 to swing into the recesses at thesides of the clamps.A The said spindles of each group may be operated bya series of pins or studs v, upstanding from a slide-bar V, which may befitted in a groove or-suitable guideway formed at the top of alongitudinal member A' of the machine-frame disposed beneath the clamps,as shown in Figs. l, 2 and S.

" vers W, pivoted'at the ends of the machineframe and held normally ininward positionby retractile springs w, but moved outward immediately'after each loop-forming operation by suitablecams X on the shaft D orother suitable means, thereby drawing Voutwardly the slide-bars andybringing the studs o therei on, into engagement with the toes h5 at thelower ends of the spindles h4, whereby-the latter arev turned to permitthe hinged plates h3 torecede to release the .loops and allow ejectionof the finished stay. It is obvious, of course, that the hingedface-plates h3 may be disposed at corresponding sides or faces of theclamps of the entire series and thev spindles operated from a singleslide-bar instead ofy a` pair of oppositely-moving slidebars, ashereinshown, if desired.

Ejection of the finished stay may be accomplished by a number ofejectors or push-rods y, tted in'suitable grooves or guides in the topsof certain of the clamps and suitably -sprin'gzor other suitable meansand operated to rock the rock-shafts by` a lug or Wiper al, projectingfrom a collar on the shaft F, which lug in themachine herein illustratedimme- The slide-bars V may be suitably connected to reciprocatingactuating-lediately upon release of the loops between the clam ps passesunder a roller z2 at the upper end of said lever, thereby moving thelatter to turn the rock-shafts simultaneously, so as toremove the pins rfrom the front faces of the clamps and cause the ejectors y to-push oifthe inished stay, which may fall from the clamps upon suitable inclinedrods or guides and pass from the machine, the rock-shafts beingimmediately oppositely turned,by force of the spring z, to draw back theejectors and snap the pins r back against the front faces of the clampsto vholdin place the succeeding and just previously delivered blankwire.

A brief summary of the general operation ofthe parts in a cycle of theaction of the machine, taken inconnection with explana# tions ofoperation already given, will now-be sufficient. A wire may be deliveredupon the clamps as each finished stay is ejected, being retained inproper'position thereunder by the pins r, depending'from the rock-shaftR, and beingimmediately strucky endwise and pushed against the plate orabutment S by the butter T. The opposite groups of movable clamps arethen vshoved outward by the camsM, while the innermost or 'rst pairofneedles K begin,r to descend under action of the cams or cam-wheelsO', their depending toes or projections la engaging and pushing the wirefirmly against the abutments h at adjacent sides of the separated clampsH and H, whereupon, said clamps being separated to theiry full extent,the adjacent grippers thereof are caused to grip the wire by action ofthe wipers N. The cams M now engage the innermost or first pair ofmovable clamps H and shove them inward against the fixed clamps H,duringwhich movement'the nee-y dles K', having brought their notches 7cinto engagement with the wire substantially midway said'separatedclamps, are further depressed, thus bending orfolding the interveningportions of wire in between the clamps, being suddenlylelevated justbefore the outer clamps close against the others and press together themembers of the loops thus formed. As the clam ps H' separate from theclamps H2, the succeeding pair of needles K2 under action of their camsO2 begin to descendand force the wire against the abutments at adjacentsides of said clamps, the adjacent grippers thereof being operated bythe wipers N2 to grip the wire immediately after inward closing of saidclampsH, whereupon the clamps I-Pare moved by the cams M2 toward theclamps H', while the needles continue to descend and bend loops in thewire, being suddenly elevated just before the clampsH2 close against theclamps Hl, as before. The same movements are repeated consecutively bythe sev- IOO IIO

eral cooperating partsat each side of the machine, the mechanism at bothsides acting simultaneously, thus producing in succession pairs of loopsat opposite sides of the middle of the wire. When the last or outermostclamps of the series herein, H5, are closed -against the precedingclamps, the grippers L of all the clam ps are released simultaneously,the gripper-fingers Z being dropped from the terminal edges of all thewipers or gripperactuating cams N N2, dsc., at once. The cams X thenengage and move the levers WV to draw the slide-bars V outward tooperate the loopreleasing devices, and immediately thereupon therock-shafts R' and Y are rocked by the lever Z to withdraw the pins rfrom the faces of the clamps and cause the ejectors y to push oii thefinished stay.

It is obvious that the group of clamps and coperating devices at eachside of the fixed clamps, together with the actuating mechanismtherefor, constitute a complete machine. It is also obvious that theentire series of clamps may, if desired, be arranged to move in the samedirection or from end to end of the machine instead of from ends tocenter, as herein represented, though the latter arrangement ispreferred because the action of each successive clamp of each group iscounterbalanced by opposite action of the corresponding clamp of theother group, and, furthermore, because twice the number of loops areproduced in the same amountof time with the same rate of rotation ofthedriving-shaft- In some instances the middle or intermediate `fixedclamps H may be dispensed with and Having thus described our invention,what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. In a machine of the character described, means for loosely supportinga wire at different points, means for moving said points of support adistance lengthwise consecutively, and means for folding the portions ofwire successively left between adjacent and consecutively-separatedpoints of supports into loops while bringing said points consecutivelyone up to another, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, means for consecutivelysecuring a wire at intervals, and means for consecutivelybendingtheintervening portionsthereofinto loops while bringing thepoints of securance consecutively' one up to another, substantially asdescribed.

'3. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of loop-bending devicesadapted to operate on a wire progressively from an intermediate pointtoward opposite ends simultaneously,

th us consecutively bending loops at intervals in opposite portionsthereof, substantially as described.

AI. In a machine of the character described, means for consecutivelysecuring a wire at intervals at opposite sides of an intermediate point,and means for consecutively bending the opposite intervening portionsinto loops while bringing the oppositely-disposed points of supportconsecutively toward said intermediate point, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of movable wire-supportsarranged to be consecutively moved one from and toward another, andmeans for bending in between said supports as they are broughtconsecutively together loops from a wire placed lengthwise upon theseries, substantially as described.

6. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, and means for bending in between said clamps as theyconsecutively close one against another loops from a wire placedlengthwise upon the series, substantially as described.

7. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, means for bending in between said clamps as theymove consecutively oneagainst another loops from a wire placedlengthwise upon the series, and means for releasing the loops thusformed from the closed clamps, substantially as described.

8. In a wire-stayinaking machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, means for bending in between said clamps as theymove consecutively one against another loops from a wire placedlengthwise upon the series, means for releasing the loops from theclosed clamps, and means for ejecting the finished stay, substantiallyas described.

9. In a wire-st-ay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, means for securing a wire against adjacent clampssuccessively as they stand separated, and means for bending the portionsof wire extending across the consecutivelycreated spaces in between saidclamps as they move consecutively one toward another, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a Wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, means for secnringa wire placed upon the seriessuccessively against adjacent clamps as they stand separated, means forbending loops from said wire in between said clamps as they moveconsecutively one to- Ward another, and means for releasing the wirefrom all the closed clamps simultaneously, substantially as described.

1l. In a wire-stay-making machine, aseries of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, means for secnringa wire placed upon the seriessuccessively against adjacent `clamps as they stand separated, means forbending loops from said wire in between said lOO IIO

clamps as they move consecutively one to-l ward another, means forreleasing the wire from all the closed vclamps simultaneously and forejecting the finished stay, substantially as described.

12. In a wire-stay-making machine, agroup of clamps arranged to move inconsecutive order from one closed position to another, and means forconsecutively bending in between said clamps while moving one towardanother loops from a wire placed lengthwise against the group,substantially as described.

13. In a wire-stay-making machine, a group of clamps arranged to move inconsecutive order from one closed position to another, and means forsuccessively securing a wire at ad jacent clamps as they consecutivelystand separated and bending the intervening portions of said wire intoloops between said clamps while closing one toward another,substantially as described.

14. In a wire-stay-makin g machine, a group of clamps arranged to bealternately moved a distance in union and returned consecutively, andmeans for bending in between successive adjacent clamps as theyconsecutively return loops from a wire placed upon the group,substantially as'descrbed.

15. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a group ofloop-pressing clamps arranged to be movedin succession from oneclosedposition to another, of 'a series of actuating-cams thereforadapted to engage and operate said clampsin consecutive order,substantially as described.

16. Inawire-stay-making machine,thecom bination, with a group of movablelooppressing clamps, of an actuating-cam adapted to move the group adistance in one direction by engagement with an end clamp, and a se.

ries of actuating-cams adaptedto engage and return said clamps inconsecutive order, substantially as described.

17.. In awire-stay-making machine,the combination,with a groupofloop-pressing clamps arranged to be moved successively, of adriving-shaft, and a series of actuating-cams spirally arranged thereonto engage and operate said clamps in consecutive order, substantially asdescribed.'

18. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of clamps, one of which isfixed while the remaining ones are adapted to move alternately in agroup away from the fixed member and consecutively back toward the same,and means for bending in 'between said clamps as the movable onesconsecutively return loops from a wire placed upon lhe'series,substantially as described. V

19. In a wire-stay -m'aking machine, a series of clamps arrangedto movein groups in opposite directions and returnV consecutively in pairsconsisting of corresponding members of said groups, and means forbending in between adjacent clamps as they are returned portions of awire placed upon the series, substantially as described.

- 20. In awire-stay-making machine, a series of clamps arranged toseparate in groups in opposite directions from an intermediate tixedmember of the series and to return consecutively in opposite pairs, andmeans for bending in between adjacent clamps as they consecutively closeone toward another portions of awire placed upon the series,substantially as described. l

21. Inawire-stay-makingmachine,thecombination,with a series ofloop-pressing clamps arranged to operate in two oppositely-movinggroups, of a pair of cams adapted to move said groups outward andcorresponding series of cams adapted to return the corresponding membersof said groups consecutively, substantially as described.

22. In awire-stay-making machine,the combination,with a series ofloop-pressing clamps, f

of a driving-shaft, and a series lof actuatingcams thereon arranged intwo opposite spirally-disposed groups, the innermost cams of each groupbeing adapted to move the clamps in groups in opposite directions andthe remaining cams ot' each group to return the clamps of thecorresponding group consecutively. substantially as described.

23. In a machine ofthe character' described,

ya series of consecutively separating and closing clamps, means forsecuring a wire against adjacent clamps successively as they standseparated in such manner that the succeeding intervening portions arecaused to diverge correspondingly from the general line of the wire, andlmeans for folding said portions into loops between said clamps as thelatter consecutively close one against lanother, substantially as andfor the purpose described. v

24. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, the same being provided with correspondingly-oblqueabutments thereon,means vfor securing a wire successively against theabutments at adjacent sides of adjacent clamps as the latter standseparated, and means for bending the succeeding intervening portions ofwire in between said clamps as they consecutively close one toward annother, lsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

25. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, the same being provided with wiregrippingdevices,means whereby the grippers of adjacent clamps are successivelycaused to grip a wire placed upon the series as the clam ps standseparated, and means for bending the succeeding intervening portions ofthe wire in between said clamps as they consecutively close one after`another, substantially as described.

26. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of vconsecutively separatingand closing clamps provided with wire-gripping devices at their edges,means whereby the pairs of gripper-s at adjacent sides or edges of said'LOO IIO

clamps are successively caused to grip awire placed upon the clamps asthe latter consecutively stand separated, and means for bending thesucceeding intervening portions of wire in between the clamps as theyclose one after and toward another, substantially as described.

27. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps provided with wire-gripping devices at their edges,means whereby the pairs of grippers at adjacent sides or edges of saidclamps are successively caused to grip a wire placed upon the clamps asthe latter consecutively stand sepa'. ated, means for bending thesucceeding intervening portions of wire in between adjacent clamps asthey consecutively close, and means whereby all the grippers are causedto release the wire from the closed clamps, substantially as described.

28. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps provided with wire-gripping devices at their edges,means whereby the pairs of grippers at adjacent sides or edges of saidclamps are successively caused to grip a Wire placed upon the clamps asthe latter consecutively stand separated, means for bending thesucceeding intervening portions of wire in between adjacent clamps asthey consecutively close, and means whereby all the grippers aresimultaneously caused to release the wire from the closed clamps,substantially as described.

29. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps between which loops arebentin succession from a wire placed upon the series, said clamps beingprovided with wire-gripping devices at their adjacent sides ol edges, ofa series of actuating devices adapted to operate in succession the pairsof grippers at adjacent sides of said clamps to cause them to grip thewire as the clamps consecutively stand separated, substantially asdescribed.

30. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps between which loops are bentiu succession from a wire placed upon the series, said clamps beingprovided with wire-gripping devices, of a series of actuating-camsadapted to engage and operate in succession the grippers of adjacentclamps as the latter consecutively stand separated, substantially asdescribed.

31. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps between which loops are bentin succession from a wire placed upon the series, said clamps beingprovided with wire gripping devices, of a rotating shaft, and a seriesof gripper-actuating devices spirally` arranged thereon and adapted toengage and operate the grppers in proper succession during theconsecutive movements of said clamps, substantially as described.

32. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clampsbetween which loops are bentin succession from a wire placed upon the series, of wire-gripperspivotally mounted thereon and having opposite extensions or fingers, anda series of gripper-actuating devices adapted to engage said ingers tooperate the grippers successively during the consecutive movements ofthe clamps, substantially as described.

33. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps between which loops are bentin succession from a wire placed upon the series, of wire-gripperspivotally mounted thereon and having opposite eXtensions or fingers, anda rotating shaft, and a series of wipers spirally arranged thereon andadapted to lift said fingers to operate the grippers successively duringthe consecutive movements of the clamps, substantially as described.

34. In a Wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps between which loops are bentin succession from a wire placed upon the series, of Wire-gripperspivotally mounted thereon and having opposite extensions or fingers, anda series of gripper-iinger-engaging wipers consisting of successivelyshorter segments arranged with their initial edges in retrogressiveorder but their terminal edges in substantial alinement, whereby saidlingers are raised in successive order and dropped simultaneously,substantially as and for the purpose described.

35. In a wire-stay-making machine, the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps between which loops arebentin succession from a wire placed upon the series, of Wire-gripperspivotally mounted thereon and having opposite eXtensions or fingers, anda series of gripper-actuating devices adapted to engage operatively saidngers in regular sequence during consecutive movement of the clamps andto release them simultaneously after such movement, substantially asdescribed.

36. In a wire-stay-making machine, the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps between which loops are bentin succession from a wire placed upon the series, and a pair ofwire-grippers pivotally mounted at adjacent sides on the clamps of eachadjacent couple and provided with opposite extensions or fingers, of aseries of actuating-cams adapted to engage the ngers of said pairs insuccession as the clamps consecutively standseparated, substantially asdescribed.

37. In a wire-stay-making machine, the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps between which loops arebentin succession from a wire placed vupon the series, and a pair ofwire-grippers pivotally mounted at adjacent sides on the clamps of eachadjacent couple and provided with opposite extensions or fingers, of aseries of actuating-cams adapted to engage the fingers of said pairsinsuccession as the clamps consecutively 1 strand separated, and releasethem vsimultane'ously after the last clamp closes, substantially asdescribed.

` 38. In a wirestay-making machine, the combination, with 'a series ofconsecutively sepa-v rating and closing clamps between which loops arebent in succession from a Wire placed upon the series,1and a pair ofwire-grippers vpivotally mountedl at adjacent 4sides on the:

devices mounted on"said clamps at thfradjacent sides or edges,1andmeanswhereby thei pairs of adjacent grippers of adjacent couples. of eachgroup are successively ca ij'sed to grip a wire placed upon theclampsgasthe latterA consecutively stand separated v'ubstantially asdescribed. j j; v

40. In a wire-stay-makinigf.machine, a se; ries ofloop-pressingclampsarranged in two opposite consecutively separating andclosing groups, corresponding members of which groupsmovesimultarleously, wire-gripping devices mounted on said clamps attheir ad-` jacent sides or edges, means whereby the pairs of adjacentgrippers of adjacent couples of each `group are successively caused togrip a wire placed upon the clamps as the latter consecutively standseparated, and means whereby all the grippers are simultaneously causedto release the wire from the closed clamps, substantially as described.

4l. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps having abutments thereon and wiregrippers pivoted atthe outer sides of said abutments, means for forcing a wire placed uponthe series successively against the abutments of adjacent couples andcausing the adjacent grippers thereof to grip said wire as the clampsconsecutively stand separated,and means for bending the succeedingintervening portions of wire in between the clamps as they close oneafter and upon another, substantially as described.

42. In a wire-stay-making machine,-a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps having oblique abutments thereon and v wire-gripperspivotedat the outer sides of said abutments, means for forcing a wireplaced upon the series successively against the abutments of adjacentcouples and causing the adjacent gri-uppers thereof to grip Asaid wireas the clamps Sconsecutively stand separated, and means for bending thesucceeding intervening portions of wire in between the clamps as theyclose one after and upon another, substangtially as described..

43. In awire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, a series of wire-bending devices, and

' means whereby said devices are successively caused tof'lbeud portionsof a wire placedupon the clamps in between adjacent clamps as they conecntively close one toward another, substaitlally as described.

44.,"`1I'n a wire-stay-making machine, a sel rievskgoffconsecutivelyseparating and closing rps, a series of needlesadapted to travelrespectively between adjacent clamps, and means for successivelydepressing said needles as the clamps close one after another to engageand benda port-ions of a wire placed cent clamps and for suddenlyelevating said needles to escape said clamps just before theyv close oneagainst another, substantially as described.

4.5. In a wire-'stay-makingV machine, a series of consecutivelyseparating and closing clamps, a series of intermediately-arranged andslidably-pivotal wire-bending devices, and means for actuating saidneedles in succession to engage and bend portions of a wire placed uponthe clamps in between adjacent clamps as they close-one after andagainst another, substantially as described.

upon the series inbetween successive adja- IOO 46. In a wire-stay-makingmachine,the com- A bination, with a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, of a series of intermediately-arranged needles, thelatter being carried by rocker-arms slidable on a fixed support andprovided with toes, and a series of needlefactuating cams adapted toengage said toes in succession, whereby the needles are successivelyoperated to bend portions of a wire placed upon the clamps in betweenthe same as they close one after and toward another, substantially asdescribed.

47. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series of.consecutively sepa-v rating and closing clamps, of a series ofintermediately-arranged needles, the latter being carried by rocker-armsslidable on a fixed support and provided with toes, a rotating shaft,and a series of needle-actuating cams spirally arranged thereon toengage said toes in succession, whereby the needles are successivelyoperated to vbend portions ol" a wire placed vupon the clamps in betweenthe same as they close one after and toward another, substantially asdescribed.

48. In a wirestay-making machine,the combination, ywith a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps having abutments thereon, ofa series of needles arranged to 0perate respectively between adjacentclamps, means whereby said needles are successively caused to forceawire placed upon the series IIO against the abutments of adjacentclamps as they consecutively separate and to bend the succeedingintervening portions of wire in between said separated clampsas theyclose one toward another, substantially as described. Y

49. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps, having abutments thereon,of a series of needles arranged to operate respectively between adjacentclamps, said needles consisting of thin notched bars having toes belowtheir notches, means for successively depressing said needles as theclamps consecutively separate, whereby their toes are caused to force awire against abutments of adjacent clamps, and further depressing thesame as the clamps consecutively close, whereby their notches are causedto bend or fold the succeeding intervening portions of wire into loopsbetween the closingclamps, substantially as described.

50. Inawire-stay-makingmachine,thecombination, with a series ofseparating and closing clamps, of a vseries of needles adapted tooperate respectively between adjacent clamps, said needles havingnotches and toes below said notches, means for depressing each needle asthe adjacent clamps between which the same operates are separated,whereby its toe is caused to engage and push a wire into proper positionagainst said clamps, and for further depressing said needle as saidclamps close to fold the intervening portion of wire into a loop,substantially as described.

5l. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofseparating and closing clamps having correspondingly-oblique abutmentsthereon, of a series of needles adapted to operate respectively betweenadjacent clamps, said needles having notches and toes below the same,means for depressing each needle as the clamps between which it operatesare separated, whereby its toe is caused to force a wire against theabutments of said clamps, and for further depressing said needle as saidclamps close to bend the intervening portion of wire in between saidclosing clamps, substantially as described.

52. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofseparating and closing loop-pressing clamps, of a series of interactingneedles consisting of thin bars having notches and toes below saidnotches, substantially as and for the purpose described.

53. In a wirestaymaking machine,the combination, with a series ofseparating and closing loop-pressing clamps, of a series of interactingneedles consisting of thin bars having notches and toes below saidnotches; said needles being secured to rocker-arms slidable on a fixedsupport, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

54. In a wire-stay-making machine,the combination, with a series ofseparating and closing clamps provided with wire-gripping devices, of aseries o f needles adapted to operate respectively between adjacentclamps, said needles having notches and toes below said notches,meansfor partially depressing each needle as the clamps between which itoperates are separated, whereby its toe is caused to push a wire placedupon the series under the grippers of said clamps, means for actuatingsaid grippers to grip the wire, and for further depressing said needleas said clamps close to bend the intervening portion of wire in betweensaid clamps, substantially as described.

55. Inawire-stay-making machine,the cornbination, with a series ofconsecutively separating and closing clamps provided with wiregrippingdevices, of a series of needles adapted to operate successively betweenadjacent clamps, said needles having notches and toes below saidnotches, means for partially de pressing each needle as the clampsbetween lwhich it operates are separated, whereby its toe is caused topush a wire placed upon the series under the grippers of said clamps,means for actuating said grippers to grip the wire, and for furtherdepressing said needle as said clamps close to bend the interveningportion of wire in between said clamps, substantially as described.

56. In a Wirestay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, and a series of needles adapted to 0peratesuccessively between adjacent clamps, means for moving each needle tobring the same into engagement with a wire placed upon the seriessubstantially midway adjacent clamps when the latter stand separated,and for depressing said needle while maintaining it midway said clampsas the latter close to fold the intervening portion of wire in betweensaid clamps, substantially as described.

57. Inawire-staymaking machine,the cornbination,with a series ofloop-pressing clamps arranged in two opposite consecutively separatingand closing groups, of a series of wirebending devices arranged incorresponding groups, the devices of each group being adapted to bend insuccession intervening portions of a wire placed upon the series inbetween the consecutively-separated clamps as they close one afteranother, substantially as' described.

58. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps, one clamp of each adjacent couple being providedwith a movable plate in its clamping face or side, means forsuccessively bending in between said clamps while closing loops from awire placed upon the series, and means for moving said plates when theclamps are closed to release the loops, substantially as described.

59. In a wire-stay-making machine, a series of consecutively separatingand closing clamps between which loops are successively bent from a wireplaced upon the series, one clamp of each adjacent couple being providedIOO IOS

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